Chris Stedman

All Stories by Chris Stedman

Farewell, Faitheist

By Chris Stedman — January 29, 2015
When I started writing this column, I set out with the goal of lifting up frequently overlooked nontheist perspectives—the atheist voices that are generally ignored by those who are only interested in narratives of conflict and certainty.

Meet the tireless women working to free Raif Badawi and Waleed Abu al-Khair

By Chris Stedman — January 20, 2015
Samar Badawi, Ensaf Haidar, and Elham Manea talk with RNS about their efforts to free Raif Badawi and Waleed Abu al-Khair—and explain what others can do to help.

Godparent, without the God part

By Chris Stedman — January 15, 2015
When my sister was pregnant with her third child, I received an ultrasound image in the mail. Attached to it was a handwritten note: "Would you be my godfather… er… sponsor… ah… special person? You know what I mean."

You don’t have to support Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons to support free expression

By Chris Stedman — January 8, 2015
Anyone implying that you cannot truly support free expression unless you enthusiastically support Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons sets up a false dichotomy. Taking issue with these cartoons doesn’t make you an apologist for extremism—and suggesting otherwise isn’t just wrong, it’s harmful.

Are Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher responsible for the rise of the ‘nones’?

By Chris Stedman — January 6, 2015
Phil Zuckerman, author of several books on secularism and founder of Pitzer College’s first-of-it-kind Secular Studies program, talks to RNS about whether or not "New Atheists" are responsible for the rise of the "nones."

The 10 most read ‘Faitheist’ stories of 2014

By Chris Stedman — January 1, 2015
As we begin 2015, here's a look back at the most read 'Faitheist' posts from last year—from whether or not atheists can be fundamentalists to why atheists shouldn't call religion a mental illness.

After living without God for a year, former pastor Ryan Bell no longer believes

By Chris Stedman — December 30, 2014
(RNS) Ryan Bell — the former Seventh-day Adventist pastor who spent 2014 living as an atheist — is ready for his big reveal. After chronicling the last 12 months on his blog Year Without God, Bell — who now works as director of community engagement at People Assisting the Homeless in Southern California — announced in an interview with NPR that he no […]

‘Year without God’ pastor: Why I’m no longer a believer

By Chris Stedman — December 29, 2014
Ryan Bell—the Christian pastor who spent 2014 living as an atheist—is ready for his big reveal. Bell tells RNS how he came to his decision and what it will mean to him and his loved ones.

The ‘War on Christmas’ is actually a war on atheist voices

By Chris Stedman — December 24, 2014
If I was basing my impression on what I see reported on by Fox News and other networks, I would not think that less than 15 percent of atheists are anti-theists. In fact, I would assume the opposite.

2014: The top stories in atheism

By Chris Stedman — December 22, 2014
From the popularity of 'Cosmos' on Fox-TV to the Roku launch of 'Atheist TV', from open atheist James Woods's inspiring congressional campaign to Richard Dawkins's less-than-inspiring tweets, atheists made headlines all year.

There’s no such thing as atheist fundamentalism

By Chris Stedman — December 19, 2014
"This nefarious use of the term reveals the charge of 'atheist fundamentalism' for what it sometimes is: A weapon to marginalize critique of religion and the religious, and to maintain a status quo in which religious viewpoints, practices, and communities are privileged over nonreligious ones."

Yes, atheists can be fundamentalists

By Chris Stedman — December 18, 2014
"Fundamentalism as an ideological category has historically been limited to religion. But as atheism grows and begins to double as a political identity for many, I propose expanding that category to include nonbelievers."

Debate: Are there really ‘fundamentalist atheists’?

By Chris Stedman — December 17, 2014
Some people argue that atheism is "the new fundamentalism." But are there really "fundamentalist atheists"? Two atheists weigh in.

Should atheists be vegetarians?

By Chris Stedman — December 12, 2014
"We know animals can suffer, have no divine reason to suppose that only our suffering matters, and we're currently inflicting constant and severe suffering to a staggering number of conscious creatures."

Is talk of privilege ‘lunacy’? On Richard Dawkins, skepticism, and certainty

By Chris Stedman — December 10, 2014
Richard Dawkins and others have already demonstrated that they're not afraid to direct their skepticism toward religious ideas. But the freethinking spirit they strive to embody and promote can't be limited to this one area.
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